The Best Ways to Maintain Your Best Self While Working From Home
Whether you decide to stay as much inside the house, or you’ve decided to let go and follow your way outside to work, we can all agree on one thing – the work-from-home set up is still part of the new normal and after 7 months, we’ve managed to realize that it’s not too bad, nor stressful, after all. A lot of big organizations out there are still in this set-up and have decided to extend it till 2021. It may have been awkward at first, but most of us have come to find our own creative ways to enjoy it. No raging virus can take away the essence of a true designer after all, so for some of you, life goes on, and it’s business-as-usual.
But for some interior designers, this period is challenging. How do you keep yourself productive and, most of all, sane?
I’ve got the best tips for you!
1. The Power of Technology
If there’s one thing you’re lucky to have, it’s the fact that you have access to hundreds of excellent tools, from apps to sites, that will help you stay productive and manage your projects well. This is even if you’re working with a lot of people or team. Here are some of my favorites:
· Zoom, Google Meet, or Skype for client and team meetings, webinars, client onboarding, and presentations
· Pinterest for curation of design inspirations, which you can then share to your clients
· Social media from Facebook and Instagram for market engagement
· Website for online digital marketing strategies
· Slack for collaboration
· Google Drive or Dropbox for cloud-based storage and file organization
· Pomodoro for better time management
· Autoresponders for email marketing
· Trello for project management
2. Be in the Zone and Learn to Set Boundaries
I am talking about boundaries at all fronts. For example, you still need to separate your professional and personal life. You should also stop people from encroaching your private time.
Granted, setting boundaries is easier said than done, but you can always begin with these ideas:
· Dress the part. I find wearing my work clothes helps me “get in the zone,” so to speak. It reminds me of my time in the office, where I am most productive. You can also picture it as your costume when you’re doing a role. Once you take it off, then your personal life resumes.
· Set a working schedule. How long do you usually work in your office? Stick to it at home. If you’re having a hard time planning with the extra responsibilities, such as taking care of the children or cooking food, then adjust accordingly. But by all means, practice consistency.
· Don’t let anyone disturb your flow. In the concept of ikigai, a person who loves what they’re doing will find themselves in the flow. It’s when time and space seem to cease to exist, and all your attention and passion are focused on what you’re doing. The flow can last for several hours or not, but it’s prime time to produce the best output. That’s why you should not let anyone disturb you when you’re at it.
· Learn to say no. Usually, when you’re working from home, the line that separates personal and work life becomes blurry. You may check your emails before you go to sleep or even schedule Zoom meetings over the weekend. You may entertain client requests when you’re supposed to be on a break. Go the extra mile – always – but never spread yourself thin even when you’re spending more time at home.
3. Collaborate and Connect!
Make use of this time to get busy building your brand visibility by collaborating with people and organizations. How about a move to get yourself a press placement? We have several years’ experience in the field and have built great partnerships with various companies in the publishing and advertising industry. We can bring your work closer to your targeted audience even when you’re working from home. Visit interiordesignpr.com to learn how you can get yourself a press placement at a fraction of a cost of a full-service PR agency.
4. Say NO to Stress and Be Creative!
When you’re thrown in a scenario you’re not familiar with, usually, anxiety creeps in. You stress level shoots up, and when it becomes uncontrolled, it won’t be long before you feel the burnout. Burnout leads to unproductivity, dissatisfaction, disengagement, and unhappiness.
Learn to manage your stress. The good news is it’s not as difficult as people think!
· Play your favorite music anytime.
· Spend at least 20 minutes in the morning outdoors.
· Grow some plants, cook or bake – pursue your old or new hobbies and interests.
· Watch Netflix and chill.
· Learn not to sweat the small stuff.
· Reward yourself with a glass of wine.
· Enjoy a bubble bath.
The world was at a stand-still for months and months, but right now, it’s picking up. Despite COVID-19 and the economy, we are now somehow seeing a ray of hope that things will swing back to normal soon. What does this mean for your business? It means that you have to start to get busy—have to be seen! The quickest, most effective way to reach an audience and increase your leads is by getting published. How about we work on that ASAP? Click here to learn more.